The recent e-commerce boom has positively impacted retailers and shoppers by increasing the bottom line and making shopping easy. Shoppers love the convenience of being able to browse, select and receive from the comfort of their homes. The development of same-day and two-day shipping has only increased the desirability. Unfortunately, e-commerce and the highly desirable same-day shipping does not benefit the environment. When e-commerce and home-deliveries first started to become prominent in the retail world, it was praised for being beneficial for the environment. Researchers determined online shopping was ‘greener’ than brick-and-motor shopping since fewer people are making personal trips

Uncertain times are challenging. As the economy plunges into recession, analysts across the world have been using market-based data to track the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the various pieces that make the economy tick, sorting which have stabilized and which continue to struggle. The Johnson Redbook Index measures the growth in U.S retail sales. For the fifth straight week, Johnson Redbook’s weekly measure of retail sales exceeded year-ago levels – suggesting that consumer spending may be a lot more durable than originally thought despite declining financial support from the government.  Of course, the face of retail has shifted

Over the past year, the telecommunications industry has seen some significant change. From an increased focus on smart cities to better tech security — here’s a look at some of the telecom trends that have seen growth in 2020.  The Internet of Things The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connection of powered devices to the internet. If your home has a lamp, coffee maker, air conditioner or any other appliances connected to the internet then you are living in an IoT network. Experts predict that 30 billion devices are predicted to be connected to the IoT network by 2021.

According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, the world generated a record 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste last year. In 2014, that number was closer to 44 million, and it’s expected to grow to 74.7 million by 2030. In stark contrast, the formal documented collection and recycling of e-waste in 2019 was 9.3 million metric tonnes – 17.4 percent of e-waste generated. E-waste contains several toxic and hazardous substances, posing significant risks to the environment and human health. In fact, a total of 50 tonnes of mercury alone are found in globally undocumented flows of e-waste annually. Despite the

As consumers rely more on e-commerce for their needs and wants, their desire for instant gratification does not dwindle. Consumers want their packages to arrive at their doors as quickly as possible, and as a result, same-day delivery has become the new benchmark. Trends and Statistics: In 2019, the value of the same-day delivery market was USD 5.87 billion, and by 2024 it is expected to be worth USD 15.60 billion. Automation and increased internet and smartphone usage are the main factors behind the exponential growth. Another unexpected factor is the pandemic. As people avoid the mall and opt to

If your business accepts credit cards, you’re likely familiar with the basics of credit card fraud and chargebacks. If you’re not, here’s the rundown: Banks, payment processing networks and fintech companies pump millions of dollars and countless research and development hours into keeping our payment options secure. Despite their best efforts, credit cards and PINs still get stolen. In the case of true fraud, a stolen credit card is used without authorized access. If you’re unfortunate enough that the fraudster used the stolen card to pay for something from your business, you’re likely to be subjected to a chargeback when

As society started to adapt to the ‘new normal’, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies became essential tools to meet both professional and personal needs. Below is a list of three areas impacted by AI and AR technologies. The Office Social-distancing measures and other restrictions left companies wondering how to maintain day-to-day functions while following the new rules. Working from home was the most obvious solution, but there was still a concern about a loss of productivity. AI/AR were adopted by many companies to fill the gap between at-home and in-office work and keep productivity high. The main

Picture this. You walk up to your front door and a beam of light scans your eye. The door opens and you walk inside. As you take off your coat, you receive a notification on your phone about an abnormal charge on your debit card. You lift your phone to your face and are instantly looking at your recent bank statement. No, you have not been transported to a new spy movie. You are living in today’s world of biometric identification. Biometric identification refers to technological systems and devices that allow machines to confirm an individual identity by comparing saved

A lot was going on in the second century. The Roman empire enjoyed a period of prosperity lead by the “Five Good Emperors.” The Antonine Wall was built in Scotland, while the Antonine Plague ravaged the Rhine. Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu. And fastidious merchants in Jerusalem began adding written signatures to authenticate their transaction receipts. Muslims took up the practice a few hundred years later, but it didn’t really become commonplace in Europe for another millennium after that. By the 16th century, literacy was on the rise and agreements were being put into writing

If the cardboard in your recycling bin disappeared overnight, would you complain? Probably not. Instead, you’d just be happy it’s gone. After all, that’s why you’re putting it in the bin in the first place – so waste haulers can take it away.  However, in cities from Los Angeles to New York to Madrid, it’s often not the legitimate recycling firms doing the pickups. Instead, it’s cardboard trafficking gangs beating them to the punch. Southeast of LA in Huntington Beach, waste management and environmental services companies claim that half to three-quarters of the cardboard that gets thrown in commercial recycling